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Surgery on 4/18....nerves setting in and then I read....
ElfiePoo replied to slm2007's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Ok...first, be glad for the posts that talk about the negatives. When I was doing my research, nobody was talking about these things so I went into surgery with a whole different perspective. Knowing then what I know now...I might (stressing might) have made a different decision but at least I would have had the full story. I read an article (I swear I need to print these off or bookmark them) that said only 4 out of 10 banders are successful...success being determined as only losing 50% of their excess weight and that's only of the percentage who don't end up losing their band from erosion or other medical complications and I can't remember whether these problems were 60% or 40%...sorry. I had my band out two weeks ago due to chronic phrenic nerve pain. My insurance did not have to give prior approval since it wasn't elective...it was due to a 'complication'. I'd guess most insurance companies work that way. My surgeon wanted to do a revision to the sleeve. I would have had to go through the whole approval process (psych eval mainly) again for that one. My insurance company had no problem in approving the sleeve (I didn't get it by the way) because the band was being removed because of a complication...not because it didn't work. Even then, the surgeon said they know how to word the paperwork so insurance companies will approve. Oh, and according to my surgeon, the band is not considered 'restrictive' but the sleeve is so again perhaps it's just in the wording? You can read about the experiences of others...good and bad...but it still won't tell you how you'll do. Ask yourself this...if you don't get the band, then what will you do? Yes, there's a risk you'll be one of those who fail at the band *or* are failed by the band (and it happens more than the manufacturers would like to admit)...but you could also be one of those who are successful. Personally, I wouldn't give up without trying. . -
Hi kids, I've started at a new gym and they are kicking my behind. I thought I was fit because I've been working out pretty consistently from the get go. And I am cardiovascularly on top of things, but HOLY COW my body is sore today! I'm glad to be moving differently and I hope it jumps the weight loss too. TGIF! Juli
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Foods that break down easy........
HarleyNana replied to BeachBabe(soon)'s topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I really think the high protein intake was the reason for my muscle gain, cause it sho enough wasn't from workn out. Prior to banding I ate little protein, now I'm a protein freak. In all my 55 years I never knew until one of the nutritionist meetings the protein helped boost the metab and helped you stay full longer. See the band came with good ideas. -
I just have a question... My port has "moved" to some degree. Last time I was in for a fill the nurse told me it had "shifted" because I lost some weight (about 18 lbs.) and that my insides have changed causing the port to "tilt". She had a really hard time and poked and prodded until she got it. I guess I can deal with that, but now when I feel the port myself, it is like it is on it's side. I am just wondering how they will access it for another fill, which I need! My other concern is will it have to be fixed with surgey if they can't access it for a fill? I would love to know that now since I have met my deductible for the year and would love to have it done by the end of the year so it will be covered 100%. Just wondering if anyone out there had "tilted" port problem and how they were fixed. Thanks.
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I've been home for almost 24 hours now, and here is a quick summary of my banding experience so far: I got to the hospital at 7:30, for my 10am surgery. I was brought back to the pre-op area, and given a gown and booties to change into, and told to wait. About 9am a nurse came in to give me my surgical stockings, and start my IV. She also gave me my first shot of a blood thinner. Finally at 10:15 my surgeon came in and said they were setting up the surgery room for me, and it would just be a few minutes. 10 minutes later a man came to wheel me to surgery. I get to the operating room, and everyone there was soooo nice. The nurses were telling me that it would all be over soon, and that I would never have to worry about my weight again. The anethelogist assistants said they couldn't believe I was 40, they thought I looked 25 (all us gals know that is the best compliment ever!). Then they have me scoot to the surgery table, and they begin to strap me down. Then they unfasten my gown in the back, and put something under my head to prop it up. Finally they begin to add something to me IV to "relax me" and they put a mask on my face. The next thing I know, it is 2pm, and I am in recovery! The first thing I asked was if the surgery went well. I was told it did. Then I asked if I could go to the bathroom. They said I had to use the bedpan. Ugh! I hate trying to use a bedpan. I don't remember much else until getting wheeled to my room, where my DH was waiting for me. I was so sleepy, I think he only stayed about 30 minutes. I remember the nurse hooking up these leg massagers things that felt good for a while. Then the rest of the hospital stay, was a blur of a morphine drip, and pain medicines, and vital signs. Not very restful, but I was pretty comfortable. DH brought me home Friday, day after my surgery, at 1pm. We stopped at CVS to get my pain medicine (Loritab). Then, as the afternoon wore on at home, my pain began to worsen. I didn't know if it was gas, or the surgery, but the next 18 hours were pretty painful. The Loritab did little to relieve the pain. In addition, I still had no appetite, so was only sipping Water. This morning, I called the surgeon. He told me to double up on the Loritab, and also take Alleve or Motrin. He said i was getting IV pain relievers in the hospital, but not at home. Well, that did the trick. I am currently much more comfortable, and even sipping my first post-op Protein shake.
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Hi Magii.... I am in same situation as you. I just found out this Friday (10/10/08) that my band had slipped. My Dr didnt tell me to go on liquids, etc. he just told me to try not to gain weight since I got a total unfill. I have been eating the same as I was when I had a fill HOWEVER I am noticeably hungry and really have to watch myself. I have to go back in 3 weeks for another flouroscopy and see if part of my stomach went under the band again. Do you have to go back in one or two weeks? Did your Dr tell you what is next? I'm assuming that if there is no change in my slip I will have to have a revision. Hope you are doing well and wonder if you heard from anyone else who has had a slipped band and if they went on liquids or continued on solids. Angie Banded 3/29/06 down 75 lbs
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Acanthosis nigricans (darkening of neck or underarms ect.)
Ktizzle replied to Noturningback15's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I was diagnosed with PCOS at 13. Had an ovarian tumor removed at 14, (it was the size of a softball). I am a extreme and rare case because I was so young when it was diagnosed. The Doctors thought the tumor was cancerous, I was sent to the UCLA Norris Cancer Hospital in L.A. for the surgery. They had no idea it was PCOS. I was only 220 lbs. when I had this surgery, I am just about 6 feet tall so my BMI was relatively low. My symptoms include skin tags (on my neck, under my arms, under my breasts, on my stomach and one on my leg), skin darkening, severe acne, and face/body hair growth, inability to lose weight, extreme irregular periods. I still don't get a period if I stop taking my birth control pills, which I did for the lap-band surgery. Dealing with facial hair, acne and skin tags was rough through high school but i never had the skin darkening until college where I grew to the 280 lbs range. I was banded on December 7th 2010 and have gone from 313 to 288 lbs. I use a foot scrubbie (the kind with soap in it) for under my arms and where my thighs rub together in the shower every day because of the darkening. I don't scrub REALLY hard just hard enough to stand it. I also use aveeno body lotion after the shower every day. I have always done this because if I don't my skin becomes VERY rough. I have notice a difference in color (it is much lighter) and it seems smoother as well. I do take 300 mg spironaldactone every night, for hair growth and have been looking into laser treatments for my facial hair. I was wondering if the treatment results lasts a lifetime or do the hair follicles grow back eventually? Please if anybody is concerned or has any questions for me let me know. PCOS can lead to ovarian tumors if not treated. I have been dealing with this for over 13 years. I have been on Metaformin, and spironaldactone, for a very long time and can not wait to get off of it. Has anyone been able to loose enough weight to get off all of their PCOS meds? Thanks, K. -
I had a adjustable laparoscopic gastric band performed in Glasgow at the Nuffield in February 07, I am a surgeon myself (trauma Orthopaedic) but I live in Edinburgh. At 118Kg the Edinburgh New Years Day Triathlon was my first Triathlon, I had not been this weight for 25 Years! The event consists of a 400-metre swim, 11-mile cycle ride and a 3.5-mile run. I finished slowly in just about two and a half hours. I completely run out of energy on the run and hit;the wall, an experience I've never had before. From my pulse rate I think I swam, cycled and run the whole event anaerobically! My heart rate monitor watch said my peak pulse rate was 178/min and that during the triathlon I used just about 5,000 calories (hard to believe?). I'm not sure anyone has any experience with adjustable laparoscopic gastric banding and triathlon? IF there is anyone out there please contact me. I guess being catabolic for most of the year my liver has little capacity to store glycogen, its said you run out of energy at about 90 minutes which is exactly what happened. I did take on isotonic Fluid and a banana at the end of the cycle but I guess not enough carbohydrates (I've ironically avoided carbs all year!). I would like to do another triathlon at some point, I would be better being less than 100Kg I guess. Today luckily no joint pains and just a bit stiff. Thanks for all those who came out to support me. The finish was a fair bit emotional. I have run a blog at Chris Oliver Blogspot this was intended to relay my experiences, I hope it will be useful to other bariatric surgery patients and help the development of bariatric service in Edinburgh and Lothian both at the Murrayfield and on the NHS.
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Hello I also called Dr. Sawyer, his office number is 580-510-7042..and they told me that the visit it self is $170 and later i have to come back for the fill , make new apoitment and then it will be another pay of which she said she not sure yet, Only on my appoitment i will know. I said i am a self cash pay and that was the price she said. How come u girl had it cheap? Do u know of any other fill i Dr in lawton who have resonable price? I had my surgery over sea (not mexico) I didnt had fill in almost 3years. started gain weight ... Im 169lbs now gotta get down again to 155lbs..PLEASE HELP..LOL
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I think it's very common for restriction to "disappear" suddenly. As you lose weight the fat pad around your stomach gets smaller, hence the band is looser. Can you call your doc for a fill?
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I had mine in 2006 , lost 200 pounds. Have gained it all back . Trying to find a place for fills in Dallas TX Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App
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Chris Oliver, Edinburgh Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon is cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats this August 2009. The ride will be almost 1000 miles. In the last two years he’s lost 55Kg after weight loss surgery and wrote about this on his blog Chris was one of the trauma surgeons who looked after Olivia Giles who lost all four limbs after meningitis. Chris is going to raise money for Olivia’s charity, 500 miles for amputees. Chris supports 5oo MilesFlySpec a service which takes orthopaedic, plastic and reconstructive surgery, principally by air, to amputees and disabled people in towns and rural communities in Zambia where such surgery is not otherwise available. I would be grateful if you would support me, I'm trying to raise £10,000, donations can be made via Justgiving - Chris Oliver's 500 Miles FlySpec Cycle
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3 Years After Lap Band Surgery
velvets143 replied to Florida Pete's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I really needed a Kick in the ass to get me back on track. Was having trouble and got away from everything I knew I was supposed to be doing. Tried to justify it because I was still exercising but the scale wasn't hearing my excuses. I felt like crap when it was time to go for my appointment, embarrased to go in and show a gain! Had to go back to the beginning- tracking everything Im eating and drinking, keeping track of when I ate so im not drinking to close together, no carbs, everything like I just got my band. Also I changed my exercise- signed up to run a 5k, etc. Hard to find the motivation but you can get there_ Good luck -
Help 2 Weeks Post Op Today Hungry And Eating...
Animallover77357 posted a topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I had a revision on May 11. I feel hungry all the time and can eat/drink up to 5 ounces at a time(pureed soups, jello etc). I still feel hungry after that at times. I have lost 25 or so pounds since pre-op diet and weight loss seems to be slower than I thought it would be. Again, surgery was 14 days ago. I feel like I have already failed and ruined the sleeve. My lapband was a nightmare and it was a fight to eat EVERY SINGLE TIME so the feeling is so much different now that its gone and Im not throwing up every meal I think I am not noticing the "signal" for full or just ignoring it. I am doing protein shakes at least once a day. Please help and let me know if this is normal. Will I feel the restriction once I get on solid foods? I have had a pretzel here and there and a tiny nibble here and there of solid foods but Im scared so I really try not to do that. -
Hi StartingOver, I am five days post op from having my band removed due to intractable problems just like you have described. My obstruction was total just like yours so I had surgery 3 weeks ago to remove adhesions and scar tissue that the surgeon thought was causing the problem. Sadly it made no difference and nothing would go through, even though the band was well positioned. As my problems have escalated over several months and I was at a very low ebb by then we decided it was best to take the band out. So far so good as I have been slowly increasing fluids and am now on to Soups and milk which have all gone down. Just as well as I was without any calories or nutrition at all for 2 weeks during which I lost about 20 pounds, by starvation, and often dehydrated to the point of needing IV fluids. I have lost about 90 pounds plus in total but would have liked to lose another 20 pounds. Now my challenge will be not to increase my weight again, but I simply could not have gone on any longer as I was. Like you I had frequent PBs which must have significantly contributed to the problem. My advice to you is to avoid PBs at all costs even if it means staying on fluids for longer. I wish you all the luck in the world.
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I was Sooooooooo close to getting rescheduled.
msspiceybaby replied to angelicHG7's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
I am so glad the weight(wait) is over. And sorry you had to go on that merry-go-round but, at least someone cared enough to call you instead of making you wait on pins and needles all weekend. Good luck and speedy recovery. -
I'm curious about something.... Just how easy is it to strectch your pouch? I try really hard to keep my portion size to 1/2 C per meal as recommended by my dietician. But there are sometimes where I don't have anything to measure with and have to "eyeball" my portions. If I go a little over the 1/2 cup, is my pouch going to stretch out and then slow down my weight loss? Or does it take a lot to stretch the pouch and it's not a huge deal if I eat slightly more once in a while? I've made the investment of time, $$$, and effort in this process and don't want to mess it up!
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I had my Realize band for 2 years, lost close to 100 lbs and was doing great. A few months ago I started having severe issues with reflux. I had unfill after unfill and remained "tight". It progressed to one weekend I was unable to swallow anything and was vomiting continuously. After a complete UNFILL, several days of IV cortisone and nothing by mouth- the swelling still would not go down and I was forced to have an emergency removal. I NEVER thought I was lose my band. Would like to hear from others- how are you doing since removal? weight? Other surgeries? Or decided not to do surgery?
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Band to be removed Thursday - Soooo Scared!
babsintx3 replied to Lisa_in_Texas's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hi Paige, Once again, I find myself playing devils advocate. You make valid points but they are so laced by your negativity, no one really wants to listen. THere is no PERFECT WLS. I have bypass friends who are sick looking, anemic or DEAD in their pursuit to be a normal BMI and healthy. I have lapband friends who have had numerous complications, several erosions, several slips, some pouch dilatations etc. I do not have any DEAD lapband friends although I know that there are a very very few that succumb to complications of surgery. I like the reversability factor because I do believe that one day there will be a pill or medication available to me to put my obesity permanently in remission. Since their presently is not and I had two small children to consider, I did not want a more dangerous rerouting of my anatomy and the band was a great option for me because of my problem with satiety. I never got full. We all know that the lapband is not a perfect solution and does not cure obesity. It is simply a tool to aid in weight loss and the patient must do the work (both mentally, dietary and exercise compliance) THe same applies to all WLS. Sure there are probably better options for long term like the DS as an example, but the associated risks are significantly higher even with a great surgeon and in my case, I was not prepared to take the risk. The band is actually quite barbaric in nature as a restrictive device rather than malabsorptive. Despite all my problems with the band (12 fills and unfills over 3 years, endoscopies, floruoscopies, and all the post op care I have endured, I still feel I made the right decision. Statistically, I am a success, but I busted my butt. Do not think it was an easy journey. I am still considered to be overweight, but I will take my size 14/16 over a size 28-30 anyday. Babs in TX 334/190 ish -
Band to be removed Thursday - Soooo Scared!
ted12345 replied to Lisa_in_Texas's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Thats the PONT! If WLS is for life Why would you want it reversed? It only needs revisonal surgery if its going wrong and the complications again are rare and if like happen very early days. Unlike the band most people experience probs around 18 months to 2 years. It can be devastateing if the band has been great then suddenly slippes and needs removing. Not every one is likely to keep the weight off! You ONLY usually have the band removed when there is complications and the long term chance of complications are way higher with a band than any other method of WLS. A Doc will endourse the band if thats all there doing and most general practioners dont know enough about anything so have a say eather way. (in a specialist manner) A Specialsit bariatric surgeon should be skilled in all the surgeries and should have enough experience to assess a patient and there suitablility for what ever procedure. The patient should of course consult with the surgeon and heed the surgeons advice. This less invasive and reverasble thing is sooo repetative it seems like the laimest excusess for a band i have ever heard. It says you expect it to fail and when it does its easy to fix. Whats the point in entering into a lifetime commitment to change with the expoectation its likely to fail. All surgeries to some extent are reversable. The band completely reversabe and usually with that there is a very high chance the weight will regain. Thats prob one of the sole reasons why lots of insurance companies in the US dont fund banding and lots of people have to fight for it. Surly that tellls you something! i seriously cannot see why you would ever want it reversed if things are going well. And in most bypass cases things go well like the stats say there is higher complications probs with a band than any other method of WLS so again if this are going great why would you consider revision? -
I am a little worried that I may have a slip, I had the flu over New Years and vomited until I couldn't swallow my own siliva. I had an emergencey unfill and felt much better within a few minutes. I had all the liquid taken out and waited about 3 1/2 weeks to start fills again. I have gained 10 pounds and have had two fills in the last month. I feel no restriction at all and feel very different than I did before the unfill. I have no reflux but just have a feeling that all is not well. I am going back in later this week for another fill. I am hoping that I am just a worrier!!!
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It seems I am just a worrier, I had the 3rd fill and now feel restriction. I am so happy. Now to get back to losing this weight. I did learn alot about not getting to tight. Will try to use the band to help me in my choices and not expect it to do everything ( will try not to get it too tight!) I still need to make good choices.
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Hello!! I'm still checking to see if anyone has been banded at Harper Hospital by Great Lakes Weight Loss team? I've scheduled my band date of 10/7/08 and am so ready to get there to get it done. I'm coming in from Chicago.
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Absolutely! No issues easy to schedule fills, they are accessible by phone or e-mail :scared2: Joined Curves and the inches lost look better than the weight for now but I'll take it in pounds or inches!
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I can only hope that this haapens to me, or at least some of it:-) Sex has been a huge issue for my husband an me, he wants it all the time and I don't because I don't have the desire and I don't feel sexy, but he doesn't understand that because he loves me no matter what. He has also accused me of getting it elsewhere becuase he isn't getting it enough, and I have tried to explain to him that it is not him, it is me and if I wanted it I would surely go to him for it, it makes me feel really bad and guilty and this is the one issue we fight about constantly, so I am really hoping for a change once the weight starts coming off. I don't think it is abonormal it is probably having everything kept inside you for so long and it is now getting a release and going crazy. I say go with it and see what happens, it is very good that you are talking to him about it.
